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I use the peel mainly for bread and have had no problems. After reading all the reviews before this purchase, maybe previous users who had warping problems did not use enough mineral oil for "seasoning" before first use. Or were over zealous with cleaning. It took mine almost 3/4 cup applied over 3 days before no more oil was absorbed. Even after many uses, the peel gets an light oil rubdown once in a while. Have not needed to get any water near it for "cleaning". A light wipe with a dry paper towel works. Water and wood do not mix! As for sticking problems, if corn meal does not provide enough slide, try using parchment paper. Dust peel with cornmeal, cut parchment paper approximately the same size as bread or pizza, dust paper with cornmeal and build pizza or bread on top. Everything should slide right off. The parchment paper will not interfer with baking results, plus it provides a small grip for sliding the peel underneath when ready to take the bread or pizza out of the oven. Am absolutely happy with this product and expect it to last for many many years.

I just used this for the first time today and It worked well for me. I followed the suggestions of some of the other reviews and rubbed it with mineral oil about three times and let it dry before I used it. You can get the mineral oil at the pharmacy where the laxatives are located. make sure you have cornmeal so the pizza will slide off easily. to clean I just brushed off the cornmeal and wiped it with a damp paper towel (not too damp) and rubbed oil on it before hanging it back up.It looks nice and at least on mine I haven't noticed any wood filler at all. I hang it on a nail in the kitchen so it virtually takes up no extra space in my tiny kitchen. I am happy with this so far.

Febuary 2008 update

I have used this thing too many times to count now and have never had a problem. It's still in one piece I guess I lucked out and got one of the good ones. I still recommend this item I would buy again.

We recently purchased our second Sassafras Peel. The first one is still working great after many years and I'm sure this one will too.

The peel is sturdy and the handle has a good feel or grip. When moving a fully loaded pizza to the oven the peel easily supports the load. The peel is all wood and tapered at the end so you can slide it under a pizza easily. We treat the wood often with generous amounts of mineral oil applied to both sides.

The only caution I have is don't wash the peel with water as it will warp even if you dry it right away. I did this with the first peel and had to wet it again and let it dry with a heavy cast iron pon sitting on it.

Even after seasoning, when I rinsed this briefly under plain running water to remove some spilled sauce, it immediately warped and is now quite curved. Also, I have used it three times: twice for bread and once for pizza, and each time the dough stuck to the peel despite a liberal sprinkling with corn meal. If you want a peel, it would probably be better to get a metal one. I quickly learned that I have to cover the peel with aluminum foil, then sprinkle with cornmeal if I expect to be able to slide the dough off it. Should have just bought an aluminum peel in the first place.

Amazon reminded me that I bought one of these in 2003. It is my go to peel for making bread and pizza on a stone and after using a couple/three times a month it is getting a nice patina. This one is thin enough to use easily and to warp a little which is OK. I do keep it oiled very occasionally and use it. Technique counts. The glue has held fine and the wood has not cracked. I just bought another to make it into a custom bread and barbecue board.

I was just advised by seller they do not have the natural wood peel, just bamboo. Cancelled order.

Well it arrived and I thought it was pretty nice, a perfect size to me (not to big/small) and it worked good. It works as intended, it's pretty basic anyway of course. It did it's job, however I have used it around 5 times and washed it twice. The thing warps and splits into 3 pieces. Day by day the cracks are getting worse, every time I pull it out it looks worse. At first I thought, oh well, but now I can see through it! Don't buy this pizza peel, poor quality and design. It's made from several piece of wood and not bonded well. As soon as it gets some heat, it splits apart. I washed mine only a few times and stopped doing so when I noticed the splitting occurring. You have to wash it sometimes, oils get on it and would rot if you didn't.

My advice if you already bought this and can't return it (I have not called yet, hopefully I can at least get a new one for free or my money back). When you use it, use it fast and don't let the pizza cool on it, slide it right off and brush off the cornmeal and store it in a good place. Although, it will probably still warp and crack overtime. You cannot cut your pizza on this either because it seriously dents it. I learned that after one time and saw every cut I made perfectly in the wood. You really shouldn't anyway, it's not meant for that. It also gets the wood soaked in oils from the pizza, which is just more to clean up.

I regret buying this and not spending more money on a nicer one. I didn't expect it to be all that for the price it is, but it should at least hold up and not fall apart. The other reviewers are accurate when they describe the same thing that happened to mine.

I gave it 1/5 because of it's very short life span. I've had mine for almost 3 weeks.

Sassafras Pizza PeelIts simplicity is probably an asset; I also bought a metal one that cost more than twice as much but I don't see any advantages for the difference in price; if I were doing it over again, I'd buy two Sassafras which is more practical and easier to use.In either case, one still has to use flour or corn meal so the pizza doesn't stick when inserting it onto the stone.